Actor Wentworth Miller has a new project in the works, and it might surprise you.

The Prison Break star is in negotiations with Universal to adapt the novel The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. If hired, Miller would be the second name attached to the screenplay – William Broyles Jr. (Apollo 13) wrote a first draft. The choice is interesting when you consider some of the heavy hitters backing the film, the likes of which include Oprah Winfrey – who cited Edgar Sawtelle in her book club – and Kate Forte of Harpo Films, as well as Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman under their banner, Playtone. [THR]

Written by David Wroblewski, the book follows the title character, a mute Midwestern farm boy who’s forced to flee into the wilderness after the murder of his father. He comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three dogs that followed him, all the while hoping to return home and face the killer. The book was published in 2008 and became a New York Times bestseller.

While Miller is better known for his acting, the heartthrob recently earned noted success as a screenwriter. Last year, Fox Searchlight picked up his spec Stokerand quickly pushed it into production. Directed by Park Chan-wook and starring Mia Wasikowska, Dermot Mulroney, Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode, the indie horror – which, coincidentally, also involves a teen dealing with a parent’s mysterious death – is scheduled to release March 1st, 2013.

Do you think Miller is ready to tackle an ambitious project like Edgar Sawtelle?